catdaddyp

Agreed. It’s too early to tell, but one thing this staff has done repeatedly is hit the portal at a high rate. We’ll know more come mid-January. We always land a few important contributors after spring ball as well. I’m not trying to minimize our losses, but I’m glad Zips fans are finally seeing that this staff has been recruiting talented prep players. I’ve been “banging the table” on that for some time now.

Agreed, we need some help at OT. Morris and JBD have the athletic ability to play OT. Gould is an OT as well, but he’ll need a year of development. I think we are going to try the JUCO signee King at tackle. Outside of those guys, it’s really just Shor at LT and Mann at RT.

I know it seems gloomy right now and we’re losing some really good players, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be worse next season. Our defense should have been much better than it was in 2024. Going into the season we had one of the best linebacker duos in the MAC returning, a deep defensive tackle rotation, both starters at defensive end (one of them 1st team All-MAC), a starting cornerback, and starting nickleback returning. We marginally improved in a number of areas, yet somehow marginally got worse in pressures, sacks, and passing yards allowed. Not to mention our sudden change defense was horrendous. On offense, we lost two All-MAC receivers, both starting offensive tackles, and a running back with over 1,000 all-purpose yards. Fast forward to 2024 and we improved substantially in almost every category. A major difference now than when Moorhead took over is the young talent on the roster. In 2022, there was very little of it. Now we have talented (albeit inexperienced) players at every position. I’m not pretending we don’t have some holes that need addressing, but if we can bring in some key pieces from the portal, 2025 could still be a breakthrough year.

I’m not sure he’ll make an NFL roster and if 2025 happens to be his final year of football, it’s hard to blame him for making some money while he has a chance. It’s unfortunate we aren’t in a place to give a little something NIL wise, but that’s our current situation. I’d be really frustrated if he transferred to another MAC school and we had to play against him next year. On the bright side, I’m looking forward to seeing the young linebackers we have returning and who else we’ll be bringing in.

McCoy to Oklahoma State.

Offer to WR Tyshawn Russell. Fell out of the rotation at South Carolina with the new WR coach. Russell is a bit shorter and more compact than Adams, but similar type of speed.

Offer out to JUCO DT Rudy Lamar Vargas.

Offer out to JUCO WR Trey Nelson. Looks like he’s basically doing his own recruiting. Good for him landing an offer.

I’m also unimpressed. I thought Hampton was limited as a G5 QB and now he’ll face even better competition. Maybe he’ll prove us wrong? Good luck to him.

OL Isaiah Cook withdrew from the portal and is returning to Delaware State.

Not Holtz related, but your Demon Deacs just landed QB Ethan Hampton from NIU.

The teams listed above over a 1 loss Indiana team were in their conference championship game. Indiana was not. Nor was Notre Dame due to not being in a conference. Plus, OSU beat Indiana and the committee said head to head was important. That’s why they were ranked where they were. SEC was planning to move to a 9 game conference schedule, but supposedly that has been put on hold due to how the selection process played out this year.

Army is considered a G5 and they aren’t going to take two G5s. This year wasn’t about getting the best 12 teams in, it was about diversification in an attempt to get the most eyes on a product. MBB still has its flaws and it took a while to get a better selection process, but they got there. I’d bet all three 9-3 SEC teams would wipe the floor with a few of the teams that made the playoffs, but we won’t find out. I’m fine with it, but again, I don’t think the best 12 teams got in and SOS wasn’t a factor this year.

The only way a MAC school gets in is by going undefeated. That would require a weak out of conference slate and most MACs want their payday(s). Strength of schedule didn’t mean anything to the committee this year, so assuming that stays consistent, teams just need to win.

To add on to what @LZIp said, we also need to get these guys on campus. If we’re following the rules like schools should be, the earliest contact could be made was Monday - unless they were grad students who had already entered the portal. This isn’t meant to take a shot at NIU, but I’d rather not be sitting here with 4 DII signees. I’m sure a few will pan out, but if we’re looking for higher quality all-MAC type players, most of those come from P4 and high school recruits that have been developed. Here’s the All-MAC breakdown of recruiting classes from 2022, 2023, & 2024: P5 = 24 G5 = 5 FCS = 12 DII or Lower = 5 HS = 23 JUCO = 6 I did not count a player twice. So players like Nunnally, who made it two years in a row, was only counted once towards JUCO.

We’re getting an official visit from LB Markus Boswell. Looks like he was a 2024 prospect that went to a prep school this past season (similar to Benenge).

It’s a case by case basis. Some coaches are more open to certain players returning, while others aren’t. For example, NIU’s Rudolph hit the portal last year and ended up withdrawing. He’s back in the portal again this year. Another example is Mario Anderson who was named 1st team all-AAC RB for Memphis. Last year, an agent got in his ear and convinced him he could make more money elsewhere. South Carolina still tried to convince him to withdraw from the portal, but it didn’t happen. Beamer is usually a guy that tells players don’t let the door hit them on the way out, unless it’s a situation where a backup just wants more playing time elsewhere. I have to imagine if McCoy and a few others changed their mind and wanted to return, Moorhead would be more than happy to welcome them back.

NIU currently leading the portal signing parade with 4 players from DII, 2 from FCS, and 1 from P4.

Second East Texas A&M recruit we’ve offered. Long snapper Josiah Kennard.

He could if the staff would have him back, but doubtful he will return. I do wonder if part of the reason he left was due to Sean Patrick waiting in the wings. I can’t wait to see that kid on the field.

Offer to JUCO DE John Gayer. He’s already taken a visit to Bowling Green, so we are lagging on this one.

I’m confident in saying we have no chance at landing Ashford. He’s looking to finish out his last year as a starter at a P4 and get paid. He looked the best he’s looked in his career after spending a season with Mike Shula. Ashford had no chance at beating out a healthy LaNorris Sellers, so he hit the portal. I’m not sure what Thompson’s situation is, but a number of the AAC schools have an NIL presence and if he’s looking for some $, that immediately eliminates us. I doubt Finley is afraid of a QB competition if another QB is brought in. He came in knowing he’d have to compete with Bullock for the starting role. The question is does Bullock stay? His people reached out to Rutgers last year and was turned down. Now that he’s shown his versatility, other schools may be interested. If that came to pass, we’d probably have to bring in someone who saw a path to becoming a starter in a year.

As is Robby Ashford. That said, unless Finley or Bullock decide to leave, we are probably set at QB for 2025.

Offer to RB Chase Belcher of West Georgia.